If you are unable to apply using the online form, download the PDF form below.

Once you have completed the PDF form, email printed copies of your application form and supporting documentation to the Board's Secretariat or post to:

New Zealand Mining Board of Examiners
PO Box 165
Wellington 6140.

Note – the fastest way to apply for your CoC is online. Paper applications may take longer as they need extra processing.

Our application process map provides you with an overview of what is required at each stage of this CoC.

Documentation

You must provide a certified copy of the following documents. This means they must be certified by an authorised person such as a Justice of the Peace, Court Registrar, lawyer, or notary public to confirm that they are a true copy of the original document.

• Identification (see below).
• Ministry of Justice criminal record check.(external link)
• First aid certificate (see below).
• New Zealand Qualification Authority Record of Achievement (see below for unit standards required for this CoC).

Identification

Provide a certified copy of one of the following items to confirm your identity. The copy must be of a current (unexpired) document.

1. New Zealand driver’s licence.
2. New Zealand or overseas passport.
3. New Zealand firearms licence.
4. Certificate of identity.
5. New Zealand Police or New Zealand Defence Force photo identity card issued to non-civilian staff.
6. Refugee travel document used by or on behalf of the government of New Zealand.

 Fit and proper person 

To apply for a CoC, you are required to provide evidence that you are a fit and proper person. The Board may refuse an application if there is insufficient information to verify that you are a fit and proper person to hold this CoC. 

• Complete the fit and proper person form (included in the online system or attached to the application form).
• Provide a current certified copy of your New Zealand criminal record check from the Ministry of Justice(external link).
  • Your criminal record check must be provided to the Board even if there are no convictions listed.
  • The date on your criminal record check must not be more than 3 months old when we receive your application.
• If you have lived overseas for a period of 12 months or more within the 5 years before making your application, you must also provide a criminal history from that country.

You can find more information on how criminal records are considered in our Fit and proper person policy.

First aid certificate

Training of first aid personnel in workplaces must be carried out by individuals who are employed by an organisation granted consent by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority to assess first aid unit standards.

• Provide a certified copy of your current first aid certificate.

New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) Record of Achievement

Provide a certified official transcript of your Record of Achievement from NZQA, that shows the unit standards required for this CoC.

You can obtain this by contacting NZQA on 0800 697 296 or online(external link).

The following unit standards are required for a first-class coal mine manager CoC and should be showing on your Record of Achievement:

For information on unit standards for all CoCs, please see below. 

Certificate of competence experience logbook

Provide a completed Certificate of competence experience logbook where you record your practical experience that is required for this CoC.

SECTION A

This section should show the following experience:

Holder of a degree in Mineral Technology (Mining) conferred by the University of Otago

or

Holder of a qualification in mining from another institution that the NZQA recognises as equivalent to a 4-year bachelor’s degree in mining:

• 3 years’ work experience in the underground workings of a coal mining operation (including any period served in the course of study), including at least -
• 6 months actively engaged in the development and extraction of coal and support of the face openings.

If neither of the above apply to you:

• 5 years’ work experience in the underground workings of a coal mining operation, including at least
• 2 years actively engaged in the development and extraction of coal and support of the face openings.

SECTION B

This section should show the following experience:

Holder of a degree in Mineral Technology (Mining) conferred by the University of Otago

or

Holder of a qualification in mining from another institution that the NZQA recognises as equivalent to a 4-year bachelor’s degree in mining qualification:

• 6 months carrying out back-bye work involving all of the following activities:

1. preparing for and installing mechanical or hydraulic transport of coal
2. building permanent or temporary stoppings
3. installation of auxiliary ventilation
4. installation of ground support
5. installation and maintenance of services

If neither of the above apply to you:

• 12 months carrying out back-bye work involving all of the following activities:

1. preparing for and installing mechanical or hydraulic transport of coal
2. building permanent or temporary stoppings
3. installation of auxiliary ventilation
4. installation of ground support
5. installation and maintenance of services.

Before sending in your Certificate of competence experience logbook, check that you have: 

1. filled in all the fields in Section A and Section B
2. demonstrated the required amount of experience as outlined above
3. had your logbook signed by a supervisor/manager or expert as verification
4. completed the Contacts page (at the back of the logbook).

Your logbook will be reviewed by the Board. If the Board requires clarification of your logbook, you will be given the opportunity to do this.

You will be invited to attend an oral examination once your experience logbook has been approved by the Board.

For your application to be considered complete, you must provide all required information and supporting documents. If your application is considered incomplete, you will be given 10 working days to provide the requested information or documents. If you have not provided this within the 10 working days, your application and supporting documents may be returned to you.

You will need to reapply for your CoC when you have the correct documents, ensuring your Ministry of Justice criminal record check is still dated within 3 months and your first aid certificate is still current.

For more information, see our Incomplete applications policy [PDF, 47 KB].

Once your completed application has been reviewed, logbook approved and a date has been set for your oral examination, you will receive an email outlining the date and time of your online examination. Scheduling of oral examinations is based on availability of suitable panel members and the number of applicants applying for similar CoCs. Your oral examination could take place up to a few months after the Board has received your complete application and you should allow approximately 1 hour for the examination.

An oral examination panel consists of 3 members who will mostly be senior colleagues from the extractives industry relevant to your CoC. A member of the Board’s Secretariat is also present to ensure the Board’s processes and procedures are followed. In some instances, such as moderation, the Board wishes for observers to be present during an oral examination. If this is the case, you will be asked for permission prior to your examination.

The panel will assess you against the benchmarks set out in the High level framework for oral exam requirements.

The panel will use workplace-based scenarios to assess you against these benchmarks. The scenarios may include follow-up questions. You will be asked to demonstrate the application of your skills and/or knowledge relevant to the CoC. This means that the panel will expect you to talk about the scenarios you have been presented with, including the actions you would take, putting into practice what you have learnt and explaining why you have taken the action(s).

The scenarios will cover these 4 competencies:

1. Operating and safety systems.
2. Legislation.
3. Emergency management.
4. Leadership.

Each competency has a range of topics that can be found on page 3 in the High level framework for oral examination requirements.

For more information, see our oral examination policies.

It can take up to 2-3 weeks after your oral examination for a response from the Board on the outcome of your overall application.

If the Board finds you competent and grants you with a first class coal mine manager CoC, a letter of confirmation will be sent, along with your certificate and information on continuing professional development (CPD)  requirements.

If the Board finds you not yet competent and refuses your application for your first class coal mine manager CoC, you will receive a letter including the report from your oral examination. This will assist you to prepare, should you wish to reapply.

You can reapply at any time.

• Health and Safety at Work (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Regulations 2016(external link)
• Health and Safety at Work (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations) Amendment Regulations 2022(external link)
• Health and Safety at Work (Mining Operations and Quarrying Operations-Prescribed Competency Requirements for Certificates of Competence) Safe Work Instrument 2023